Does the GOP already have its 2028 candidate?
CNN chief data analyst Harry Enten said Thursday that Vice President JD Vance is well-positioned to clinch the Republican presidential nomination in 2028.
During a White House ceremony Tuesday, President Trump said Vance was “probably favored” to carry the MAGA mantle. Enten noted on CNN News Central that a Trump endorsement would likely give Vance a major boost heading into the race.
“Why don’t we take a look here? Look, this is early polling, but look, for the GOP nomination, it’s JD Vance at 40%,” Enten said. “There’s no one even close to him. [Republican Florida Gov] Ron DeSantis back at single digits at eight. Donald Trump Jr. back at 7%.”
“[K]eep in mind that early favorites have actually gone on to win the nomination 63% of the time — those who have run since 1980,” he said. “And when you’re dealing with fields that are five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, upwards of north of 20, and all of a sudden you’re telling me that the early poll leader who is JD Vance, that those win more than 50% of the time? That is why I say it looks pretty gosh darn good. Or pretty, pretty good for the man from Ohio.”
Host Kate Bolduan asked about how successful vice presidents have been historically in seeking their party’s nomination.
“How about vice presidents? Sitting vice presidents. The last five sitting vice presidents who ran — Richard Nixon in ’60, he won. How about Hubert Horatio Humphrey in ’68? … How about Bush the First in ’88? Won. Al Gore in 2001. Kamala Harris in 2024. Won,” Enten said. “All of the last five sitting vice presidents who ran for their party’s nomination, won.”
“So it’s not just the polling. Historically speaking, if JD Vance gets in this fight and he’s the sitting vice president, the history books say, hey, he’s got a pretty gosh darn chance of going all the way, at least to the general election, because five out of five,” he continued.
“So President Trump has said some pretty gosh darn favorable things about JD Vance over the last week and his chances perhaps in 2028,” Enten said. “Look at this. Times Trump endorses in GOP primaries and that person goes on to win. Look at this — in 2020, 98%, 2022, 95%, 2024, 96%.”
“If Donald Trump decides to get behind his vice president, this GOP nomination fight in 2028 is likely adios amigos. Over,” he added. “JD Vance is very much likely going to be the GOP nominee, which is what the polling says and what history says as well. At this point, things all seem to be coming up for JD.”
Watch the clip below:
🚨NEW: CNN's Harry Enten says 2028 GOP nomination "LOOKS PRETTY GOSH DARN GOOD" for JD Vance🚨
"At this point, things all seem to be coming up for JD." @DailyCaller pic.twitter.com/UyLPFp2cQS
— Jason Cohen 🇺🇸 (@JasonJournoDC) August 7, 2025
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